Actor Kim Soo Hyun is facing controversy after messages allegedly sent to the late actress Kim Sae Ron surfaced online, suggesting the two were in a relationship when she was underage.
The leaked texts, which date back from 2016 to 2019, were disclosed by Kim Sae Ron's family and legal representatives in an attempt to support their case against the actor.
On March 27, As per KBIZoom, Kim Sae Ron's family attorney, Bu Ji Seok, held a press conference in Seoul, where he disclosed a series of text messages exchanged between the two actresses.
In one exchange from June 2016, when Kim Sae Ron was 15 years old, and Kim Soo Hyun was 28, Kim Soo Hyun allegedly replied to a virtual kiss peddled by the younger actress with, "Do it for real later hehe. Ah, is this not allowed too?"
Further messages also show Kim Soo Hyun asking Kim Sae Ron whether they will be intimate in the future, even asking at one point, "A year would be enough, right?" to which Kim Sae Ron replied, "I'll do it if I want to. No promises."
Kim Soo Hyun was said to have sent Kim Sae Ron a letter written in handwritten draft while he was serving in the military two years later; he called her "Saero-Nero" and told her he missed her.
"With all these younger guys in here, I even thought about going back to school," he wrote. "Does that mean we could go to school together?"
Another allegation shared on the agency's web boasted a 22-page record of the text messages that showed Kim Soo-hyun's August 2018 instruction to delete her KakaoTalk account and contact him through Toram.
Read more: Kim Soo Hyun's Unusual Legal Approach Against Kim Sae Ron's Family Raises Question: Is He Guilty?
This messaging app hides self-destructing messages.
Kim Soo Hyun's agency, GOLD MEDALIST, denied wrongdoing, saying the two dated only after Kim Sae Ron became an adult in the summer of 2019.
The leaked messages and a postcard that is said to have been sent by Kim Soo Hyun in November 2019 strengthen claims that the relationship started before they came to light.
The public has reacted by praising and condemning the messages, with some reports calling for further investigation.
On the other side, Kim Sae Ron's family also asked the public not to attack Kim Soo Hyun too harshly while maintaining their position on the timeline of events.
So far, Kim Soo Hyun has not publicly addressed the allegations.
Legal experts are now dissecting the case against the actor and what the possible outcomes could be, which continue to fuel the controversy.
